Don your way

What's it like to work at...

Town "An ugly, lovely town," said Swansea's favourite prodigal son, Dylan Thomas, and Swansea meets its write-up. The town centre was flattened during the second world war and there are swaths of concrete everywhere you look.

However, Swansea is the gateway to the superb coastal scenery of the Gower peninsula, where the aesthetics more than compensate. Swansea dates back to the Vikings, but its history is mainly industrial - it was the world capital for copper-smelting in the 19th century. These days, Wales's second-largest town is a centre for tourism, drinking and dining and, of course, the Dylan Thomas industry.

GownThe closest campus to the sea in all of England and Wales, Swansea sits two miles out of town in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay, on the edge of the peninsula. Good job there's a great view, because the campus itself ain't much to look at - more of that concrete. Hard to keep off the beach in summer.

Top-rated research departments Civil engineering is right at the top with a lone 5 in the 2001 RAE, but physics, maths and computer science also rate highly. Languages and Celtic studies good, too.

Head count There are around 10,300 students; women just about outnumber men - there's a 45%: 55% split. Some 88% are from state schools. There are 1,194 academic staff; with a 39%:61% female to male ratio.

Academic payTowards the lower end of the spectrum but reasonable, given living expenses in the area. Probably around £46,600 for a professor of science; £30,000 for a lecturer in medicine; £22,000 for a researcher in engineering.

ClimateIf you can see the Mumbles Head clearly, it is going to rain; if you can't, it is raining. Ah, yes, it's a wet old place, and not the warmest. Luckily for you, this coastline looks just as good under glowering cloud as in blazing sun.

Transport linksGet on the M4 to zip along to Cardiff in under an hour; another 40 minutes or so will see you in Bristol. In other directions, roads are less speedy. It's 50 minutes on the train to Cardiff and around three hours to London. Ferry to Ireland. Normal city centre congestion applies, but there's an effective bus service - especially the park and ride. Cyclists increasingly well catered for.

EntertainmentThe students are predictably thrilled by the Mumbles Mile - a pub crawl along Mumbles Road, which takes in at least 11 drinking establishments. If that's not your thing, try the Dylan Thomas Theatre, or Swansea Grand Theatre. The university's Taliesin Arts Centre has a varied programme. The annual Swansea festival means more music and arty goings on. The Glynn Vivian art gallery is excellent and the Maritime Quarter is your place for a couple of good museums and more Dylan Thomas paraphernalia. There's a pedestrianised shopping centre and a market that's been held since the middle ages. And excellent surfing, walking, sailing, windsurfing. And if you'd rather watch physical activity: rugby, of course. Cardiff will fill in any gaps.

Schools As well as everything else, you've got to choose a language - but luckily there's plenty of quality around in English or Welsh in an above average LEA. Bishopston comprehensive is very good for key stage 4; Olchfa and Bishop Gore are the places for A-levels. Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr a very good choice for a Welsh education.

House prices The heart may leap when you see that an average detached house is priced at a mere £155,000 - but inevitably you'll be paying more if you want to avoid the dreary modern suburbs. Terraces from £73,000, but again you can expect to add at least half that again to get something or somewhere a bit nice.

Celebrity academics Professor Mike Barnsley is known for his ground-breaking research into climate change and Professor David Benton of the department of Psychology advises the Welsh assembly on the connection between food and mood

What to say in the common room "Twll dón pob Sais!" It means down with the English - literally "an arsehole every Englishman". Charming.

Sign up for the Guardian Today

Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.

About this article

University of Wales, Swansea

This article was published on
the Guardian website
at 09.20 EST on Tuesday 16 December 2003.
It was last modified at 09.20 EDT on Monday 26 July 2004.
It was first published at 09.20 EDT on Monday 26 July 2004.